Pak cybercrimes arrest case unravels further in UK

By Tanveer Khatana

MANCHESTER/LONDON: The first woman arrested in Pakistan under the country's cyber crimes laws unravels further in the UK, where the latest twist story makes it an Indian TV soap opera involving marriages and accusations and counter-accusations.

Sadia Mirza was arrested in Sialkot district of Pakistan over the weekend by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), under The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2015 (PECA) for “sending threatening, abusive, and lewd messages”, according to reports.

She is also accused of sending threats of extortion to Ahsan Rana, a resident of Manchester, UK. Her arrest came following complaint from Hassan Rana, Ahsan's brother. According to her case, Mirza is accused of blackmailing Ahsan Rana.

However, speaking in Manchester, Sadia Mirza’s sister, Sameera Mirza, said that the accused in the case was in fact a victim, framed by the complainants, who actually held grudges against her [Sameera] “but were unable” to do anything in the UK.

“Ahsan has some grudges against me, but he can't do anything to me as I am here in the UK, but instead he used some high ranks within Pakistan to frame my sister and got her arrested,” Sameera Mirza said, talking exclusively to The News.

"Cyber crime accusations [against Sadia] are absolutely false. A normal Facebook chat has been portrayed as threatening, my sister is vulnerable, she lives on her own in Pakistan,” Mirza added. “My sister is innocent.”

Sameera Mirza said that Ahsan Rana was not only her relative, but they also study together. “He [Ahsan] is also my class fellow. Two of his wives are also my class-fellow and friends and the third wife... is my sister's class-fellow and friend,” she added.

“We all grew up together. I was a "Gawah" [witness] in one of his weddings,” she said, but added that she did not play any role in Ahsan’s marriages or “the troubles” in his married life. “It has nothing to do with us, he has not married or left anyone because of me or my sister,” she said.

“My sister only wrote his love story on Facebook status. It was blame game for which I have complained to police against Ahsan here in the UK. Police advised me that it's their personal matter and we all should not write stuff about each other on Facebook,” Sameera added.

Sameera Mirza insisted that her sister was innocent and was framed. “I demand a full investigation into this matter and urge the Pakistani government to assure me [of] security for my sister," Mirza told The News.

When The News contacted Ahsan Rana over the phone from London, he rejected the allegations made by Sameera, saying that the FIA took action only when there was enough evidence available. He accused the Mirza sisters of blackmailing him.

“As you are aware that FIA is investigating this matter, if there is enough evidence and proof only then they launch an FIR [the first information report, which is a form of initiating police case in Pakistan].”

Rana said that the sisters have been blackmailing him. “These ladies have been interfering in my personal life since long, harassing and blackmailing me and my family in Pakistan. I am not their first victim... As this matter is in court of law, I do not want to comment any further.”